President Isaias Afwerki today met and held talks with the German Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Dr. Gerd Muller at Adi-Halo.

At the meeting, President Isaias Afwerki briefed Dr. Gerd Muller on the peace and friendship accord reached between Eritrea and Ethiopia and the opportunity the two countries will have to integrate their human and material resources for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

Dr. Muller on his part said that the objective of his visit to Eritrea is to convey a message of congratulations for the peace agreement signed between Eritrea and Ethiopia and that the new era of relationship will have an important contribution in the development of cooperation and stability in the region.

Minister Muller also expressed his country’s readiness for positive engagement in the region.

The German Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development also met and held talks on 23 August with the Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh on the development of bilateral relations and other issues of interest to both countries.

Dr. Muller also praised the joint declaration of cooperation signed between Eritrea and Somalia and expressed the expectation that the new political scenario in the Horn of Africa will have significant influence in the effort Eritrea is exerting in the implementation of its development programs.

Minister Gerd Muller upon departure concluding one day visit to Eritrea said that he will conduct similar visits to Ethiopia and other African countries.

EDITOR’S OPINES

The trips by Federal Minister Dr. Gerd Müller to Africa is a sign of Germany’s Marshall Plan with Africa. With Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Chad and Ghana, the trip leads to seven countries with very different economic and political challenges and reform perspectives.

The focus of the Minister’s discussions is on the necessary structural reforms and the possible German contribution to support.

First stop of the trip is Eritrea.

After the historic peace agreement a few weeks ago with neighboring Ethiopia, Minister Müller calls for further opening up of the country during his talks with President Isaias Afwerki and Foreign Minister Osman Saleh.

Minister Müller said,

“The historic agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea ends a decade-long conflict that has claimed nearly a hundred thousand lives, forced many people to flee.

Now we need a reliable peace process. Germany offers its support, for example with vocational training. Eritrea urgently needs to open up new perspectives for its young people, which can send a signal to the many Eritreans who have fled to Germany.

What is important for our support, however, is concrete reform steps, such as a much shorter duration of military service and the opening up of the economy to regional trade. “